Improvement in cases for reversible latches and locks



).KINZER.

Im'proyement in Cases for Reversible Latches and Locks.

No. 123,567. PafemedFeb.13,1a72.

' JACOB KINZER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT iN CASES FR REVERSIBLE LATCHES AND LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 123,567, dated February 13, 1872.

Specifica-tion describin g an Improved Method of Uonstructin g Reversible Locks and Latches, invented by JACOB 'KINZEm ofthe city of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and v State of Pennsylvania.

The accompanying drawing fully illustrates this invention-Figure l showing a lock with the case-plate attached; Fig. 2, a lock with the case-plate removed so as to exhibit the works.

Such parts ofthe lock only as are affected by the invention are lettered.

The principal feature of my invention con! sists in securing the case-plate of a lock or latch in position by means of a slot or opening and a headed rivet or screw, so that the caseplate can be removed without withdrawingthe rivet or screw.

For this purpose I form on the case-plate, at or near its center, an oblong opening or slot, B, about half an inch in length and a quarter of a-n inch in breadth, running nearly in the direction of the line which would be producedin swinging the plate from the hub C as a center. On the inner surface of the case, and corresponding in place to the opening B in the plate, I form a lug or projection, a, extending nearly or quite to the inner surface of the plate. In this lug I insert a headed rivet or screw, A, which holds the plat-e to the case. A screw is better than a rivetfor this purpose, and better than a cast-iron head to the lug or projection, as it can be more readily and eX- actly adjusted to the thickness of the caseplate. I generally make a beveled recess on the inside of the opening to catch the screwhead A and hold the plate.

- The advantage of this recess is in the n ished appearance of the lock-case when com pleted.

It will be noticed that the opening B is made to admit the screw-head A at its lower end, and is contracted so' as to catch and hold the head of the screw as the plate is drawn down. The e( ge of this opening or of the beveled recess, ii' one is used, should be cast with a slight bevel or incline toward the upper end of the opening, so as to hold the plate firmly when it is drawn to its place.

To fasten the plate to the case it is only necessary to lay the plate on the case, passing the hub C through the hub-hole in the plate, and the screw A through the opening B, as indicated by the dotted linesb b b, Fig. 1, and then turn the plate to its proper position, where it will be firmly held by the pressure of the screw.

When the'lock is applied to the door it will be fastened by screws or nails through the holes c c c, so that the fastenings which hold the lock will prevent the case-plate from ever being moved while the lock is in use.

In order that the latch-bolt can be easily taken out and turned over without displacing or disarranging. any other parts ot' thelock, I make these locks with a single straight metallic spring, F, Fig. 2, one end of which rests on Y the projecting lug G, and the other on the top of the guard H. lhe lever E is made with its lower arm resting and acting on the' spring F. The upper arm.has a pin, I, at the end, which projects through the hole in the latchbolt D. By means of this lever the spring F is made to act both on the lock-bolt guard H and on the latch-bolt D, while the latch itself, being free from all springs and other machinery ofthe lock, can be taken out and reversed at pleasure whenever the case-plate is removed.

I do not wish to confine myself to the particular form of the slot or opening shown in the drawing. Any form of hole or opening in the case-plate which will pass the head ofthe rivet or screw is within the principle of my invention, although washers or other devices should be used to catch the rivet or screw and hold the plate. v

I claim as my invention- 1. The case-plate of a lock or latch provided with a slot or opening, in combination with a headed rivet or screw for securing said caseplate to the lock, substantially as set forth.

2. The slot B, widened at one end, in combination with the headed rivet or screw A and hub U, when arranged so that the case-plate turns on the hub as a bearing while it is being fastened or removed, substantially as set forth.

JACOB KINZER.

NVitnesses: v

J'. H. BALDWIN, J. W. Bns'r. 

